About the Book

The Ebbets Field volume is the second in McFarland’s series on historic ballparks. The book combines articles about the park and the memories of those who went there in any capacity. Essay topics include long time Dodger owner Charles Ebbets, Brooklyn at the opening and closing of the park, the first and last Dodger games at Ebbets Field, black baseball at Ebbets Field, non-baseball events at Ebbets Field and statistical analyses of the park. The memories section includes the reminiscences of Dodger and visiting players as well as fans of all types and ages.

About the Author(s)

A long time member of the Society for American Baseball Research, John G. Zinn is the author of three books about the Brooklyn Dodgers and numerous articles and essays about the history of baseball. His blog on baseball history can be found at http://amanlypastime.blogspot.com.

Paul G. Zinn is a sales manager for a virtual communications software company and was a sportswriter at three daily newspapers. He lives in Acton, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments 1

I—History and Background
Charles Ebbets: Builder of Ballparks, Ballclubs and More
JOHN G. ZINN 8
A Ballpark and Its “City”: Ebbets Field, Brooklyn and Changing Times
ELLEN M. SNYDER-GRENIER 31
The Alpha and the Omega: First and Last Dodger Games at Ebbets Field
JOHN G. ZINN 48
History, Tragedy and Comedy: The Dodgers at Ebbets Field
PAUL G. ZINN and JOHN G. ZINN 58
Before Jackie: Black Baseball at Ebbets Field
JAMES OVERMYER 83
Ebbets Field: Sporting Venue and Community Center
PAUL G. ZINN 101
Ebbets Field by the Numbers
RONALD M. SELTER 123

II—Memories of Ebbets Field
Visiting Players Reminisce About the Brooklyn Ballpark 140
The Home Team: Recollections of the Brooklyn Dodgers 163
Vox Populi: The People Remember Ebbets Field 176

Appendices
A: Play-by-Play and Box Scores for Ebbets Field’s Two 1913 Openers 223
B: Play-by-Play and Box Score for the Last Dodger Game at Ebbets Field 227
C: Music Played at the First and Last Games at Ebbets Field 229

Bibliography 231 About the Contributors 233 Index 235

Book Reviews & Awards

Winner, 2014 Ron Gabriel Award—Society for American Baseball Research

“Proves to be a masterly look at Ebbets Field”—Library Journal

“The Zinns [take] on the task of painstakingly recounting or adding to the historical record of Ebbets Field. They are careful historians…[and their] efforts, and those of their collaborators Ellen Snyder-Grenier, James Overmyer, and Ronald Selter, are meticulously footnoted” —SABR Deadball Committee Newsletter

“Fans memories, prove to be well worth reading. Each tells an individual story adorned with family tradition, memories of first games attended, and nostalgia for a team that truly was part of the neighborhood”—Nine